September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
September is coming! If you would like to have your municipality fly a flag, light up a landmark, or proclaim September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (depending on the options available for your municipality), please contact us today!
Childhood Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease of Canadian children (i)
The incidence rate of childhood cancer in Ontario is increasing by approximately 1% per year (1986-2018) (ii)
Childcan serves 25% of all children diagnosed with childhood cancer across Ontario.
There are so many reasons why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is important. September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is:
A time to acknowledge the thousands of children and their families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
A time to take notice and raise awareness about the reality of childhood cancer, and to emphasize the importance of research.
A time when you can show your support by glowing GOLD! Here’s how:
Purchase a lawn sign like this one from our online store.
Purchase a LAWN SIGN and show your support proudly. Take a photo of your sign and share it with us with the name of the town where it’s located. Be sure to tag @Childcan and use the hashtag #ChildcanGold so we can share your support with our families.
Join us for the Childcan Pyjama Walk in London on Saturday, September 20, 2025, or in LaSalle on Sunday, September 21, 2025, or walk near you.
Create your own fundraiser on our new Hands of Hope website and fundraise with your own creative flair.
Show your support by purchasing Childcan merchandise or some of our signature gold ribbon items. Get your gold on by visiting the online store!
Leave your porch light on to glow gold. Take a photo and share it with #ChildcanGold and tag @Childcan so that we are amplify your show of support.
Join us at one of the flag raising ceremonies listed below. More details can be found on our events page too.
Donate to show your support to other families.
These local municipalities have already pledged their support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2025:
Tecumseh will fly a flag and illuminate their Town Hall building from Sept 2-7, 2025.
LaSalle will host a flag raising ceremony on Sept 3, 2025 at 1pm. Join us!
Kingsville will host a flag raising ceremony on Sept 4, 2025 at 1pm. Join us!
more to come…!
We are also grateful to the following local municipalities for their support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2024:
Chatham-Kent hosted a flag raising ceremony on Aug 29, at 11am.
Huron County flew a flag starting Sept 1, 2024.
Caesars Windsor glowed gold from Sept 1-7, 2024. Big thanks to the Childcan Mom who arranged this for us!
Stratford flew a flag starting at 8:30am on Sept 3, flying all the way until Sept 30, 2024! Stratford City Council have also proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Windsor hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 3, 2024 at 12:00pm and proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!
London flew a flag and buildings glowed gold from Sept 3-8, 2024. The City of London proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Sarnia City Hall and the Sarnia town sign glowed gold from Sept 3-9, 2024.
Town of LaSalle hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 4, 2024 at 12:00pm, at LaSalle Civic Centre.
Kingsville hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 5, 2024 at 12:00pm at Kingsville Arena Complex.
Town of Essex hosted a flag raising ceremony on Sept 6, 2024 at 12:00pm at the Town of Essex Municipal Offices.
Elgin County held a flag raising ceremony on Sept 10, 2024 at 10:00am at Elgin County Heritage Centre. They also proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
St. Thomas held a flag raising ceremony on Sept 16, 2024 at 10:00am, at St. Thomas City Hall, and flew the flag from Sept 16-22, 2024. The Jumbo monument glowed gold from Sept 16-22, 2024. The City of St. Thomas also proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
St Marys held a flag raising ceremony on Sept 16, 2024 at 1:00pm at St Marys Town Hall.
The Senate Chamber featured a statement from Senator Black highlighting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Childcan, on Sept 17, 2024, at 2:05pm. If you missed it live, watch it here:
Where will you see the gold ribbon flag this September?
If you are aware of more areas that can proclaim, fly flags, or light up, and want to help, please contact us at info@childcan.com.
[i] https://www.childhoodcancer.ca/Your-Impact/Childhood-Cancer-Statistics-Resources or, Statistics Canada, or Facts about Childhood Cancer In Ontario, July 2024 (pdf).
[ii] Incidence rate statistic provided by Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. Childhood Cancer in Ontario: The 2020 POGO Surveillance Report. Toronto: Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario; 2020.